Machu Picchu & Cusco

Most people travel to Machu Picchu and Cusco to learn about the ancient "lost city" or explore the legendary rainforest of the Amazon River. However, archaeological and natural wonders aside, the kitchens and dining rooms of Peru have plenty more to offer those who travel to Peru.

During your afternoon at leisure in Cusco on Day 6 of IE’s Machu Picchu tour, consider strolling through the streets of the San Blas District. Artisans have established their homes and workshops in San Blas – many teaching the younger generation of Peruvians traditional crafting techniques. This is a perfect chance to pick up a one-of-a-kind souvenir!

Adventurers will find a wealth of exciting and mysterious artifacts on the path to the Incan city of Machu Picchu, and many of those are found in the great Urubamba Valley. Also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Urubamba Valley is a stronghold of Inca culture that offers those who travel to Machu Picchu a glimpse of what life for these ancient peoples must have been like.

Salt mined in Maras, Peru, just north of Cusco, has always been popular among the Andean people, but markets as far away as Switzerland, Japan and the Philippines are now demanding the special mineral.

Travelers with their hearts set on travel to Machu Picchu and Cusco will find the South American nation to be a hub of culture, art and history. While there is a plethora of attractions that vacationers will want to visit during their stay in the Incan capital of Cusco, one stop at the top of the list will have to be the historic temple of Koricancha.

There are few destinations that truly capture the imaginations of travelers from across the globe quite like the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu. Travel to Machu Picchu dates back to the 15th century, the ancient site is one of the biggest draws to the South American continent, and travelers looking for an excuse to actually visit the amazing site may have just found the push that they need.

When University President Richard Levin signed Friday’s agreement establishing future plans for the Machu Picchu artifacts in the Yale's Woodbridge Hall, it finalized a shift in Yale’s tone from one of resistance to one of cooperation. The message is one he has tried to achieve over the past decade and one that has required many rounds of negotiations; ultimately it was only possible through a newfound willingness on Yale’s part to relinquish all the artifacts.

Travel + Leisure readers (and our guests) have just named IE one of the Top 10 "World's Best" Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters! To qualify for the awards, tour operators were judged on six criteria, including the food. And while our small-group journeys remain committed to exploration, even confirmed "foodies" will find meals worth raving about in Earth's wild regions.

A team of archaeologists has discovered 12 graves and pre-Columbian earthen enclosures at the archaeological site of Qata Ccasapata Llacta in Cusco. Seven of the graves have been perfectly preserved, while others have been looted.

The site is thought to have been a village for those serving the Inca elite or as a place of worship. However, the Qata Ccasapata Llacta - a Quechua phrase meaning "Village at the summit where it is cold" - dates back to the Killke culture in 12th century A.D.